CAN THE TEST OF MILK BE CHANGED.

Shannon News, 14 March 1922, Page 4

CAN THE TEST OF MILK BE CHANGED.

Says ‘•Harvester” in the Otago Daily Times:— Two dairy farmers were discussing the general low test of milk as indicated by the returns from the loea. milk shipping plant. Only one I'arme” of the district could claim what would be considered a fairly high test for the milk of his herd. “But John is a rare heavy feeder,” remark-

ed one of the neighbours. “Yes,” that explains it,” replied his friend. These two men were merely voicing an i Jed that is very generally entertained - that the test of milk can be inflaem ed by the feeding. Fifty per cent of dairy farmers, and perhaps more, fully believe that if they increase ilia grain rations of the cows, or substi tute rich concentrates for ground grain, that they will get a higner testing milk. All experimental evidence, however, goes to show that there is no system of feeding that -wij] influence the percentage of fat in milk for any considerable time. In Denmark, the milk tests of thous hit's of cows were considered to determine whether changes of feed were acc >mplished by changes in butteri'at tests ancl the results were negative. The richness of milk is an hereditary quality, and the only way in which a high testing milk can be ensured is by breeding from high testing strains. The only way in which the butterfat production of the cow can be increased is by feeding well to increase the quality of milk. It is true, however, that sudden changes in feeds will alter the test temporarily. For instance, it is now well known that many breeders, who have been successful in making high seven day tests with their registered cows, have followed the practice of feeding very heavily up to the day the test started and then suddenly cutting the ration in two or even more. Such a radical change seems to disorganise the system of the cow, and the nervous, :'<wered condition that results puts up the test to an extent that more than compensates for the reduction m pounds of milk produced. Where records are made in this manner, however, the cow is seldom ■ carried on even for fourteen days. Similar changes in test are induced by accidents, it being commonly believed, for instance,, that a grand champion cow at one of our winter fair dairytests owed her honours to the fact that she knocked her horn off when coming out of the car. Her milk tested abnormally high. Contrary opinion notwithstanding, we can lay it down as a rule that the only way to increase the test of milk is by breeding—not feeding.